Warriors Arise: September 8, 2020
John 21:4-6 (NKJV) But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
Do you believe God can speak to you regarding the situations you are facing today? Do you believe God will find a way to direct your path, make you fruitful and lead you out? There have been no fish all night. Every time the disciples cast there net they came up empty. But then Jesus makes Himself known on the shore. He could have walked on water to them but He didn't. He called from shore and directed them to follow.
We know from the Word, in a matter of days Jesus will to ascend to heaven. Then they were not going to see Jesus face to face, nor walk with Him to the next place God would do a miracle. It's almost as if this is a test run for the way their relationship will alter once Jesus ascends to heaven. They were having to learn to listen to Jesus a different way.
Remember the disciples could not visually identify Jesus; they didn't recognize His voice from a distance nor did they identify Jesus by the term of endearment He used. The disciples were going to have to learn the connection of Jesus speaking to them and something inside their being knowing to do what the voice said to do.
As we learn to follow the voice of God, we generally do now know that it is God until we have done it. That state of limbo can be extremely scary. For the disciples, in this moment, it was a matter of minutes as they heard the command, threw the net and then began the struggle of hauling it in. But for others, it can be very dangerous, causing others to despise you, and the responsibility of bringing others out of the clutches of the enemy who, torments them.
I am referring to Moses. He put His life in danger by returning to Egypt. He had killed an Egyptian and everyone knew it. This crime was punishable by death. It didn't matter that he had been gone for 40 years. Then the people were angry with Him because Pharaoh had increased their work and gave them less to work with by withholding the straw. The Hebrews get free only to have Moses' leadership challenged, along with gambling for a couple of million people. Most can't handle the whining from a couple of kids let alone a couple of million people.
When God speaks to Moses from the burning bush, Moses asks how he will know that it is God who has sent him. God responds in verse 12. But once Moses leaves the mountain, he would have to learn to listen to God ,without seeing evidence of Him through the burning bush.
Exodus 3 (NKJV) Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” 4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
7 And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” 13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; 17 and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’ 18 Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
The disciples knew within minutes, maybe even seconds, whether the command to throw the net over the right side of the boat was Jesus. Moses would not know until he returned to the mountain with the people. I much prefer the former than the later. With each step toward Egypt Moses would have to trust God. And it would be a lot of steps, a lot of days even a couple of months before he and the Hebrews would be at the mountain.
The disciples were learning to listen from a point of frustration and exhaustion. They had known Jesus' voice and learned to follow Him, assist Him, and be a part of the miracles He preformed. Now, learning His voice from a distance and having it resonate within them would be new but necessary. They would need to know Jesus' leading without having Jesus in the flesh leading them. They would have to identify His instructions without hearing a word with their ears. Learning to listen and follow God's direction is the success of a believers life.
Father, I ask to know Your voice speaking to the depth of me. I can't see You but I know You speak to me. I know You desire for me to be led by You. I pray for Your people who are called by Your name to listen to Your directions and respond quickly, like the disciples. They didn't discuss what Jesus told them, they responded immediately. I ask for believers all across the world to identify your voice and follow You wholeheartedly. I pray for Your Word to come alive within each one. I pray for miracles to continue at the hands of Your people. I pray for Your people to step out and believe for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done today. I pray for each one to believe You want to move in their lives and the lives of their loves ones. You still do the miraculous. You heal those who are afflicted. You cause the lame to walk. You make a way when we see no way. You bring freedom to the captives. You restore what was stolen. You make the enemy pay restitution for all that has been stolen. You rebuild what has been torn down. I pray, we, Your children, will hear Your voice and follow Your direction. I pray we will see the devastation and follow Your command on what our part is. Many of us You will desire to use as Nehemiah and send us into the cities that have been destroyed. You will want us to help them rebuild their homes and restore their businesses as You remove the reproach of the enemy. I pray we would be willing to hear and do as You direct. I pray we would be willing as Moses left his home for an unspecified time, to do the work You called, equipped and positioned him to do. I pray we would identify Your voice and how it resonates within us to walk the path You have called us to in the name of Jesus amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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